We honor vets with our vote

What better way could we honor those who gave of their time to defend our country than the opportunity we had on Tuesday, November 3—election day. Sure enough a perfect time to say thank you to those who fought in the many conflicts to give us the right to elect our government. This was the time to elect the administrating part of our government. Our elected representatives and senators meet each January to pass the budget and make the laws for the administrative part to put into action. Often it means interpreting the written words into action that affects our lives. So was election day important? Of course, and especially when we change those who are to administer that law—the Governor and his cabinet such as Secretary of State, Auditor, Attorney General, Treasurer and Commissioner of Agriculture.

Kentucky made the national news in the rights of some local officers deciding they could not issue the necessary legal papers even though the governor said to do so. That issue is still not settled and the incoming administrator will have to resolve that issue. Our local hospital’s financial problems have brought the auditor to our county more than once. The state tax reports will soon be due; then we will be aware that the state treasurer does play a part in our lives.

We have state laws that govern almost every part of our lives such as farming, hidden taxes on so many of the staples we use every day and even service programs.

It is very appropriate that election day should be so near the day set aside to honor our veterans. Then, too, Thanksgiving is also an important day in this month. Part of the Thanksgiving celebration is remembering those who sacrificed so much for us to enjoy the right to govern ourselves.

So how committed were we on election day? We not only have twelve hours on election day but we have the privilege to vote by absentee ballot. I, for one, know first hand how important being able to vote is. It was a struggle for two of us to get Peggy Kemner from her chair which is almost like being bed-fast. We got her into the wheel chair and out of the house, down the ramp and into the car. Then it was another challenge to get her out of the car and back into the wheel chair. The precinct workers made it easy for Peggy to sign her name. Then they helped her correct her mistakes made by a hand that did not always follow her wishes. But they followed up to make sure she got to vote like she wanted to. We thanked them, loaded her back into the car and repeated the procedure of getting her settled back into her comfortable chair.

Oh, yes, she wanted to vote and there were several people who made it possible.